Spring Break: South Beach!

Old Business: Two weeks later I've given up on Jessica. The new winner of my Valentine's contest is... Paradox. Send me your mailing info, darling.

Confession Time: I've never ever been to South Beach for spring break. In fact, I've only been once--but I'm dying to go back--and that once was more than enough to make me heart all of South Florida big time. I could write an entire treatise on my trip (like how the beach in Naples inspired a major scene in my upcoming mermaid book) but for the purposes of this post I'll just focus on my few days in South Beach. Aka the hottest spot in Miami. And maybe the world.

The reason I wanted to visit South Beach in the first place was because of this:


Some of you know that I have a masters degree in historic preservation (aka saving old buildings) and Art Deco is one of my favorite architectural styles ever. I can't tell you how many papers I wrote about the unique brand of South Beach Art Deco, but with every new thing I learned I found more to love about the "Streamline Moderne" buildings. Here are a couple more examples.



I could spend years just ... absorbing these structures. Of course, architecture is not the only attraction in South Beach. There's also the beach. I mean THE BEACH.

Now, I'm a water girl. I grew up as a swimmer, spent formative years in southern California, and love hanging at or on any major body of water. But I was completely unprepared for the utter beauty of the Miami beaches.


And it's not just about the boys, although they're there, too!


It's also about the candy-colored lifeguard stations, the super-plush loungers, and the weirdo guys in umbrella hats.

And before you go thinking, "Oh great. Architecture and beaches. Big whoop!" let me tell you the real attraction for most of the billions of people that visit South Beach annually. The night life!

Now, I didn't go to any crazy nightclubs or all-night parties (I was only there for two days ... alone) but you can kind of get the feeling for the kind of energy that brings South Beach to life at night just from these pictures.

This was the hotel I stayed at. One block from the beach with clean rooms and an elevator that almost never worked, but I would totally stay there again in a heartbeat.


And this was the street in front of my hotel. With an awesome outdoor bar/restaurant, tiny palm trees swaying in the ever-present breeze, and the staple of South Beach nights: neon!


So, what do you think? Would you visit South Beach? (If you do, I highly recommend the She-Crab Chowder at Cafe Med. It is literally the best soup I've ever eaten. Which reminds me, I totally forgot to mention food in South Beach....) Which part--architecture, beaches, nightlife, food--would be the big draw for you.

Hugs,
TLC

OH. MY. GODS. (available now!)
GODDESS BOOT CAMP (coming June 2009)
teralynnchilds.com

Reminder: The purpose of this Spring Break week is to celebrate the release of Spring Breakup, Steph's third book in the Aspen Brooks series. Come on, you know you want to find out what happens next!